Chicago Bulls forward Jimmy Butler played all 48 minutes in the Bulls’ past three games, placing him in rare company.

Since 1986, only LeBron James, Dan Majerle, Nick Van Exel and Allen Iverson posted more 48-minutes games in a single postseason, as ProBasketballTalk.com pointed out.

Butler pointed out his plans to prepare for the Bulls’ Game 4 against the Heat, in which he’s likely to stretch the full 48 minutes yet again.

‘‘Rest, rest and more rest,’’ Butler said Tuesday, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. ‘‘Maybe sit outside in the sun instead of in your hotel room. But definitely stay off your feet.’’

Butler, who stepped up to assume the role of Luol Deng, has surprised himself in this run. Deng led the NBA in minutes this regular season.

‘‘It definitely is [surreal],’’ Butler said. ‘‘This whole experience is. Being from a small town in Texas, nobody knowing or expecting me to be in this position—an NBA starter playing 48 minutes in a playoff game—nobody ever thought that would happen in a million years. Hell, I didn’t believe it when I was in Tomball.’’

Butler averaged only 26.0 minutes during the regular season, posting 8.6 points and 4.0 rebounds in his allotted playing time. This postseason, Butler averages 12.9 points and 5.5 rebounds in 39.6 minutes.

Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau, known for playing starters for long stretches of time, didn’t embellish too much when discussing Butler, probably because he intends to play him long minutes in the future.